Tray holder



May 15, 1956 R. J. OSBORNE TRAY HOLDER Filed Dec. 9, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l FoEEET J. 0.550;;

m y 15, 1956 R. J. OSBORNE TRAY HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1952 INVENTOR.

faaier .7. 0-$5OENE United States Patent TRAY HOLDER Robert J. Osborne, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 9, 1952, Serial No. 324,904

2 Claims. (Cl. 248-226) My invention relates to improvements in tray holders.

My invention relates more particularly to a type of tray holder capable of frictional attachment to a support such as a table ledge, sink or other support which has a vertical wall behind which supporting arms may be frictionally sustained.

It is a well kown fact that in many parts of the home and in offices and factories it is not convenient or desirable to set an ash tray on a supporting surface. Ash trays thus placed are frequently moved about, knocked over or dropped from the supporting surface. In addition, in places such as toilets, wash rooms and bathrooms, there is usually no convenient surface to support an ash tray. As a result, cigarettes are laid upon the edge of a sink or window sill, and when forgotten, either drop to the floor to burn or mar the floor, or burn and mar the window sill or other support.

All of this inconvenience and damage can be prevented by the use of my improved tray support. Due to the fact that it is provided with spring arms which slide up behind a vertical wall or ledge to rigidly brace the support frame in place, the support once atached is firmly held in place and will not be dislodged or removed by accidental pushing or shoving against the same.

Another form of the invention contemplates the provision as part of the tray assembly a wall plaque or similar structure whereby the tray support may be permanently or temporarily attached to one of the vertical walls in the room by screws, nails or other attaching means.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the novel features and details of construction of my improved tray holder, reference is had to the accompanying drawings upon which Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a typical sink, showing my improved tray holder mounted on the side of the same;

Fig. 2. is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken generally on the line 22 of Fig. 1, an ash tray being shown positioned therein in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tray holder;

Fig. 4 is a front perspective view of a modified form of the invention incorporating a wall plaque in association therewith;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the same taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a front view of the same, with parts of the wall plaque broken to foreshorten the same.

In the embodiment of the invention which I have chosen to illustrate and describe the same, I have shown in Fig. 1 a typical sink 10 which has the usual faucet 12 and control valves 14 and 16 for hot and cold Water. The sink 10 has the vertical skirt or wall 18 about two sides and the front of the same, the wall 18 being generally about one-quarter of an inch thick, although the exact size is not critical.

My improved tray holder is adapted to be attached to the vertical wall 18 and frictionally held in place thereon.

For this purpose I provide in the same a pair of side arms 20 and 22, the arms terminating at their forward ends in upright extensions 24 and 26. The arms 20 and 22 each have a downwardly extending portion 28 which is bent back upon itself and has an upward extension 30 that terminates in a short right angle bend 32 generally adjacent the horizontal leg 20 of the arm.

The arms 20 and 22 are preferably made of comparatively rigid spring wire so that the tension in the same permits the legs 28 and 30 to be separated slightly to be pushed up over the edge of the sink wall 18 and then rigidly and frictionally held in position on the wall. I provide a cross-brace 34 adjacent the rear of the arms 20 and 22 for connecting the same together, the arm 34 being also preferably made of rigid wire and being spot-welded to the tops of the arms 20 and 22 respectively.

As previously mentioned, the forward ends of the arms 20 and 22 have short upright extensions 24 and 26 which are connected by welding or otherwise at their upper ends to a cylindrical ring 36 to rigidly support the ring in a horizontal position. An ash tray 38 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 disposed within the ring 36 upon the tray support. Since this general type of ash tray is readily available in hardware, department and chain stores throughout the country, it is a simple matter to buy one of the correct size to fit within the tray holder.

In this manner I have provided an easily accessible ash tray support which, as shown, may be mounted conveniently upon vertical walls such as those on a sink, table or other similar support, the ash tray being centered in the ring 36 in such way that it is not easily knocked out of position or spilled.

in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 I have shown a modified form of the invention wherein I provide a generally similar construction of tray support frame which is frictionally attached to a wall plaque or similar object 40. With this construction, the wall plaque as shown can be supported against a vertical wall in a room by means of the nails 42, or by any other suitable fastening means which are preferred. With this construction the tray holder is capable of being mounted in most any desirable location and when in place provides an effective and sturdy support for an ash tray, easily accessible and conveniently placed so that it is not in the way and can not be turned over, dropped or broken. I also contemplate that with the combination of the tray support and wall plaque, flower pots, vases or other similar objects may be positioned in the support for decorative effects.

While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to be limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A tray support comprising a pair of similar spaced parallel arms, said arms each having a horizontal portion and a downwardly depending leg, the forward end of said horizontal portion terminating in a short upright extension, the leg being bent back upon itself and extended generally up to the vicinity of the horizontal portion of said arm and terminating in a short right angle bend directed toward the arm, and a horizontally disposed support ring connected to and above the forward ends of both of said arms, said arms being formed of spring wire so that a vertical wall may be frictionally grasped between the vertical leg and its bent back parallel portion.

2. A tray support comprising a pair of similar spaced parallel arms, said arms each having a horizontal portion and a downwardly depending leg, the forward end of said horizontal portion terminating in a short upright extension, the leg being bent back upon itself and extended generally up to the vicinity of the horizontal portion of said arm and terminating in a short right angle bend directed toward the arm, a horizontally disposed support ring connected to and above the forward ends of both of said arms, said arms being formed of spring Wire so that a vertical wall may be frictionally grasped between the vertical leg and its bent back parallel portion, and a crossbar rigidly connected between the horizontal portions of said arms near the depending leg portions of the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 789,519 Zeisinger May 9, 1905 4 Lloyd Aug. 22', Rissling Aug. 21, 'Van Gorden Nov; 24, Cook Mar. 14, Sanford May 2, Ellingson Mar. 25, Nibur May 20, Kowalski Feb. 15, 

